Frogs is a single-player action / platform arcade game released by Sega-Gremlin in 1978. It is the first video game with a jumping character (predating Donkey Kong by 3 years), which by some definitions could make it the first platform game. The player controls a frog on lilypads and attempts to catch (with the frog's tongue and while jumping) various insects (butterflies and dragonflies) worth different amounts of points in a set amount of time.
Frogs is one of the first arcade games to include a static background as part of the arcade cabinet. The game’s graphics were "projected" by laying the monitor flat on its back and reflecting the computer-generated graphics of the frogs and flies toward the player via a mirror at a 45-degree angle. (The game’s graphics were actually generated and shown backward, so the mirror reflection would show letters and numbers properly.)
Released
1978
Platform
Arcade
Developed by
Gremlin Industries, Inc.
Published by
Gremlin Industries, Inc.
Gameplay
Arcade
Perspective
Side view
Genre
Action
Visual
Fixed / flip-screen
Description
In Frogs the player controls a frog jumping between water lilies and attempting to eat various insects worth different amounts of points in a set amount of time. It makes use of a static, physical background that is part of the arcade cabinet. The game graphics are 'projected' on the background using a flat monitor and a mirror at a 45-degree angle.
From Mobygames.com. Original Entry